Funeral Poems for Mum

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What are the best poems for a mother’s funeral?

Poems for a mother’s funeral should reflect the deep bond that a mother has with her child. Including a poem for mum as a reading at her funeral could add something special to a eulogy or provide inspiration for your own writing.

Here we look at some of the best funeral poems for mum, from religious and non-religious poems to shorter quotes you might like to use.

• Poems
• Short Readings

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Loved So Deeply by J.K Rowling

Love as powerful as your mother’s
for you leaves its own mark.
To have been loved so deeply,
even though the person who loved us is gone,
will give us some protection forever.

J.K. Rowling is one of the world’s most famous authors, best known for creating Harry Potter. One of the most prevalent themes across the Harry Potter series is how a mother’s love protects us throughout our lives, even when she is no longer around.

This beautiful Mother’s Day quote has been adapted from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and could be a perfect funeral poem for mum.

A Heart So Large — a verse written by Mark Twain

My mother had a slender, small body,
but a large heart
— a heart so large
that everybody’s joys found welcome in it,
and hospitable accommodation.

In this short memorial poem for a mum, American author and poet Mark Twain talks about how his mother’s generosity knew no bounds. Used as a poem for a mother’s funeral, it can sum up the depth of love you have for your mother in just a few lines.

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An Old Irish Verse about Mum

There is but one and only one,
Whose love will fail you never.
One who lives from sun to sun,
With constant fond endeavor.
There is but one and only one.
On earth there is no other.
In heaven a noble work was done
When God gave us a Mother.

This could make a beautiful poem for mum's funeral. This would work best as part of a religious funeral for your mum, but could be easily adapted for a non-religious funeral service or celebration of life.

Remembering Mom - a memorial verse for mum by Lesley Woodrow Gibson

Our hearts are filled with memories, our eyes are full of tears.
Our lives are filled with missing you, each day throughout the years.
We pray you found the peace in death you couldn't find on earth.
We hope we became the people you prayed for at our birth.
Each Mothers Day your love lives on, in our hearts & minds.
Each and every day our love goes on, for it's the tie that binds.
Your inspiration led us on, pursuing happiness.

This poem about the death of a mother is one of several beautiful memorial verses that Lesley Woodrow Gibson has written. This mum's poem is a beautiful way to remember a mother on Mother’s Day.

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All That Was Her by Oliver Wright

Where’s she gone, the one we knew,
The one we knew and loved,
Who knew us all and loved us all –
Where now is all that love?
Where now her smile? Where now her frown?
Her bright, resounding laugh?
Ah, all are gone, by time undone;
All that was her is past.
Down the stream we drifted,
And saw her on the shore;
Around a bend we drifted,
And saw her then no more.
And yet still she stands there
Still stands beside the shore.

Oliver Wright wrote this lovely poem for his mother’s funeral. As a funeral reading, it can remind the reader and everyone listening that the love you have for a mother is eternal and always there - ‘beside the shore’. It is a lovely mum's poem and a beautiful way to say goodbye to a wonderful mum.

Heaven in Her Eye by John Milton

Grace was in all her steps,
Heaven in her eye,
In every gesture,
Dignity and love.

Poet John Milton elegantly captured both the inner and outer beauty that we all see in our mothers in this short funeral poem for a mum.

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Richer Than Gold By Strickland Gillilan

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be –
I had a mother who read to me.

Strickland Gillilan cuts straight to the heart of the matter in this poem for mum. They highlight the idea that material wealth is no comparison to the love a mother can bring. This is a perfectly formed, short poem for a mother’s funeral.

Wonderful Mother By Patrick O’Reilly

God made a wonderful mother,
A mother who never grows old;
He made her smile of the sunshine.
And He moulded her heart of pure gold;
In her eyes He placed bright shining stars,
In her cheeks fair roses you see;
God made a wonderful mother,
And He gave that dear mother to me.

A very traditional funeral poem for mum by Patrick O’Reilly, this piece is perfect for a religious ceremony. The imagery and language in this mum's poem works well within the structure of a Christian mother’s funeral service.

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In Remembrance by Christine Currah

You gave me life
To live as I please,
You gave me love and
Support to follow my dreams.
Your beauty lives
Forever deep in my soul,
The memory of your love
Fills my heart
And I am never alone

Short funeral quotes for Mum

These short readings could be used in their entirety or might give you some inspiration if you’re writing a eulogy for a mother’s funeral, or choosing an inscription for a headstone

“Everything I am you helped me to be” — Author Unknown

“Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever” — Author Unknown

“Mother's love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible” — Marion C. Garretty

“Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother” — Oprah Winfrey

We have a whole selection of uplifting funeral readings and our overall favourite funeral poems for broader inspiration. If you need help with any other aspect of arranging a funeral our help and resources section is there to guide you.